Improvement in cleaning machine-cards



,utes as may be necessary to a full'descrip- UNITE-D 'STATES PATENT Gnoien.

GEORGE VELLMAN, OF LOWELL, -flWlASSACI-IU SETTS.

i-MPRovEMr-:NT :N CLEANLNG MACHINE-CARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 10,298, dated December 6,1853.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WELLMAN, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Carding-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the same are fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, letters, figures, and references thereof.

Of the said drawings, Figure l denotes a top view of a carding-machine provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opposite end of it. Fig. 'et is a front elevation of it. Fig. 5 is a vertical, central, and transverse section of it. Such other iigtion and delineation of my invention or improvements willbe 'hereinafter particularly referred to and described. i

ln the first place, A represents the main frame of a carding-engine, and B B B, dac., the` series of top cards thereof, each of which cards is composed of a bar or lag having a strip of card-teeth fixed on its under surface. The main card-cylinder doffers and other carding-cylinders of the carding-machine are not represented in the drawings, as they have no reference to my invention or constitute no' part thereof, and are likesuch as are in general use.

In the use of common' carding-engines it has been customaryto cleanse thetop cards thereof by manual labor, 'such being removed at a proper time and cleansed by a card or instrument held in the hand of and operated by a workman or attendant. g

The main purpose of my invention is to effect the elevation of each and every one of the top cards from their beds or the frame on which they are supported, the cleansing of such top cards, and their return to their respective beds after being so cleansed, thus producing by mechanism what has heretofore been accomplished by hand-labor.

On one end of the main shaft C, extending through the frame, a pinion-gear D is fixed. Engaging with. thisgear is a large gear E, fixed on a crank or driving shaft-F. A rockerl frame G, composed of two bars a b and aA cross-connection bar d, is made to extend upward, working loosely on the shaft C, asseen in the drawings. An, arc or sector H- of teeth ismade to extend downward from the bar b and to engage with a gear I, fixed/on a shaft K, or to the side of a toothed orpin wheel L, that revolves on the said shaft. .The said pin-wheel L is for the purpose of receiving from another shaft M a rotary motion for sometime in one direction, and next.and for a similar time in an opposite direction. There tend from the main frame. Anotherbeveled pinion-gear O is fixed on the shaft M and engages with and turns a larger beveled gear P, that is fixed on a horizontal .shaft Q. .The pins that extend from the periphery of the wheel L are not set entirely aroundv its4 circumference, there beingV a space or interval to which a metallic guide piece orblock is fastened, the same being formed with two semicircular forked ends, as seen in Fig. 6, which is a top view of the said guide-piece and the pin-wheel'. The termination of each end of the arc of periphery of the pin-Wheel.A

isformed semicircular and concentric with its adjacent forked end of the block R, Aas seen at Z m, the concave sides yof the said forked ends serving as guides to the pinion N when the teeth of said pinion vwork against those teeth of the pin-wheel thaty are within the extremities of the forked ends, and enabling the pinion to change its action from one side of the` pins of the wheelfto the opposite side of the said pins, by which the motion of the wheel is reversed. There is also on theshaft Q a plate or block T,.that has fourigrooves n; o p q formed in it in radial directions and at right angles to one another, as seen in Fig. 7, which is an inner side view of such plate T. Between the outer ends of each two grooves the plato is cuter notched inward in the form of a circular are,

as seen at r r 7' r, which arc is of the same radius as a circular wheel U, that is arranged directly above it and fixed on another horizontal shaft V. An arm W projected from the shaft V carries a pin or stud s, that during each revolution of the shaft V works into and out of one of the grooves n o p q. curved notch t is made in the wheel U, so as to allow the pin s to pass into and out of the grooves n o p q. While the circular arc f the periphery of the wheel U is in any one of the notches r r r r the shaft Q is prevented from being revolved; but as soon as the pin or stud s enters into one of the groot es n 0 p q the shaft Q is made to turn. Near the other end of the shaft Q there is a tubular shaft X, that runs loosely on a shaft 0,4 and carries a pulley Y and a spur-pinion Z. The spurgear Z engages with a larger gear u, iixed on the end of the shaft V. A crossed endless belt 'u' works around and on the periphery of the pulley Y and that of another pulley w, xed on a horixontal shaft which has another pulley y iixed on it. Around the pulley y and another pulley d', fixed on a tubular shaft b', a band c runs. On the shaft b is another pulley d', around which a crossed belt e passes to and around a small pulley e2 fixed on the main shaft C.

The shaft C being made to revolve will, by means of the connecting-belts, pulleys, and gears, as above described, impart rotary `m0- tion to the shaft V, which latter during each of its revolutions will (through the action of the arm W and its stud s, the block T, and the notched wheel U) impart a rotary motion to the shaft Q through an arc of ninety degrecs of a circle.

When the shaft Q is revolved, the beveled gear P on its end will be rotated with it, and consequently cause the pinion O, the shaft M, the pinion N, the vpin-wheel L, the gear I, and the arc H to be put in motion, so as to turn the frame G on its bearings. By the above-described machinery this frame is alternately moved from one lag or top card to another throughout the series, and finally brought back again, the mechanism, as shown in the drawings, being calculated to move it from one card to the next but one in advance, always omitting the intermediate card, which is taken up in turn when the frame is moved in an opposite direction. Itis a common custom in cleaning the top cards to remove or lift up every other one, instead of every one in succession, leaving the intermediate card down and taking it up the next time going through the series. It will be evident that the mechanism may be arranged or constructed so as to move t-he frame G from one to the other in the order of their succession, or in any other order that may be desirable.

The frame G carries mechanism for laying hold of the two ends of a top-card bar and lifting it upward above the rest, and not only holding it upward while a brush or card that is also held by machinery connected with such frame is made to pass underneath and in contact with the card-teeth of the said top card and cleanse the same, but afterward de pressing it (the top card) down on` its support or bed.

To each bar a b of the frame G there are slideways f', each set of which carries one of two slides or carriages g g. Fig. 8 is a rear edge View of the slideways and slide of the bar a, those of the bar b being similar thereto. To each of the slides g g there is a gripper or jaw h', that is fastened firmly to the slide and made to project over the ends of the next adjacent top-card bar. There is also another jaw t', that extends underneath the said end of the top-card bar, and is formed on the short arm of a bent lever k', (see Figs. 8 and 9,) the latter being a vertical section through the jaws, lever, and the slide or cam by which the lower jaw-lever is moved, so as to force the said jaw against the under side of the end of a top-card bar. This cam or contrivance is shown at l', and as fixed on a lever m. An inner side View of the slide g is represented in Fig. 10, in order to show the lever m', which moves vertically on a fulcrum or pin n', inserted through its rear end and fastened in the frame or slide g. The front end of each of the levers in m isjointed to the lower end of one of two bars o 0. Each of the bars o is jointed at its upper end to one end of one of two levers p 19', that work on fulcra q q at their rear ends. In Fig. 1l we have an inner side view of one of these levers and the cam-wheel by which it is raised, both of the said cam-wheels being seen at fr r in Figs. l and 4.

A curved arm s extends down from each lever p and is formed with projections t' u fn w', as seen in Fig. l2, (which is an outer side view of the levver,) and Fig. 13, which is -an edge view of the arm. V

The projections t u t w of each leverarm operate in connection with the adjacent cam r', the latter when revolved being made so to act on them as'tolift its lever at the proper time and to the proper height, so as not only to close the lower jaw t" against any top card-bar that may be between it and the upper jaw, but also tolift up the slide fg and such top card-bar. Inl Fig. 14 (which is a vertical section of the machine taken in line of the axis of the main shaft C) the elevation of the slides g g and the top card is represented by red lines. The said cam-wheels r fr are iixed on a horizontal shaft that is put in` revolution by the action of an endless screw y on a worm-gear z', that is fastened to the shaft in the position as seen in the drawings. The endless screw y is fixed on an upright shaft a2, whose lower end is stepped and supported in a bearing b2, through which .the shaft C plays, the said bearing being fastened to the arm a. Near the lower end of the shaft u2 a beveled pinion c2 is placed on the shaft and made to turn loosely on it. The said beveled pinion is made to engage with and be turned by a beveled gear-wheel CZ2, that is fastened on the shaft C and revolves with the said shaft.

There is a clutch e2 placed on the shaft a2, and made to slide freely up and down on it, but having a spline or feather connection with the shaft, such as will prevent it from being rotated on and independently of the shaft. The object of this clutch is to connect the beveled pinion c2 to the shaft a2 and to disconnect it therefrom at such times as it may be necessary so to do. The said clutch is connected with a bar or lever f2 by a fork g2, such fork being made and applied to the leverl and clutch, so as not only to permit vthe revolution of the clutch, but to effect the upward or downward movement of the clutch when the lever or bar f2 is moved either upward or downward. l

The lever or' bar f 2 is connected with the slideways of the bar a by means of a link or bar h2, that is jointed or hinged to each, so as to permit the lever to be raised upward. The lower end of the lever f2 is forked and rests in the groove of a slide 2, that is placed on the shaft C and slides freely in a longitudinal direction on it. The upper end of the lever is formed with a hook, as seen at k2, which hook operates in connection with a pin Z2, that projects from the periphery of awheel m2, which is fixed on the outer end of the shaft x.

Within the slide Z2 and around the shaft Q there is a helical spring n2, that operates to force the slide outward, or in a direction away from the beveled gear next to it. One arm of a lever- 02 rests against the outer end of the slide Z2. The fulcrum of the lever 02 is arranged as shown at p2, and the other arm of the' lever is formed and extends toward and by the side of the spur-gear u, fixed on the shaft V.

A small cam q2 is made to project from the side of the gear u, and during the-revolution of the gear it is brought into contact with the inner side of the adjacent arm of the lever o2 and presses the said arm outward, so as t0 cause the slide Z2 to be moved inward, and thereby move the lever f2 in such a direction as to move its hook 7a2 off the pin Z2, so as to permit the gravitating power or weight of the clutch e2 to carry the clutch downward and.

into connection with the beveled pinion c2, so which the top card is elevated above its bed, as to put 0r set in operation the machinery by held up, and finally depressed again down upon its bed.

As soon as the cam q2 passes by or beyond the part or hand r2 of the lever o2 the pressure of the lever against the slide 'Z2 is removed thereform, so that the reaction of the helical spring that is in the slide is left free to operate or move the lever f2 so as to throw its lower end outward, and thus cause a simuln taneous movement of the upper end of it in the opposite direction, whereby the hook 7a2 will be brought into the right position forthe pin Z2 of the wheel m2 to meet it and lift it and the lever when the said pin is moved around against it. As soon as the top card has been lowered down to its bearings the pin Z2 is brought against the hook, so as to lift it and thereby lift the lever f2 vand the clutch e2, so as to unclutch the pinion c2 and the shaft a2. The said shaft and pinion are to be kept unclutched while the machinery that moves the frame G ismoved to and over the next top card that is to be raised and cleansed. l

In order'to preserve the pressure of the lower jaw c" against the top card, a springlatch s2 is fixed to the slide-frame g, asp-seen in Fig. .15, which is a rear view of thc carriage g and some of the adjacent parts. This latch springs under the lever m when the latter is raised up high enough. During the next descent of the frame or carriage gl the curved part u2 of the latch is brought against a stationary pin t2, so as to unclutch the latch from the lever m and allow it to descend'.`

The next part of the machinery to be de-` are also two rocker-levers y2 y2, arranged as seen in the drawings, and made to be supported on the frame G and to rock on shafts or fulcra at their lower ends. of each of the said rocker-levers is jointed to one of two connecting-rods z2 z2, whose other end is jointed to the middle part of the adjacent lever w3. of the saidrocker-levers y2 'y2 two pins a3 b2 are extended at a short distance apart, and receive between them the rim of one of two cam-wheels c3 c3, both of which cam-wheels are fixed onthe shaft 0c and are made to revolve by and with it. These cam-wheels should be so formed that duringthe time that the machinery which moves the top card is in operation they shall produce no motion of the stripper-card v2, also so that after the top card has been raised upward they (the cams)r-shallso move the rocker-levers as to cause the stripper-card to pass or move underneath the top card and against it and back again to place, whereby the strippercard will be made to remove from the top card the surplus waste or matter to be taken from it.

A trough or spout CZE, made of wire netting, may be arrangedas seen in the drawings, so as to catch the waste that may fall from the stripper, such trough or receptacle being supported on rods -or arms e2 e2, that project from the frame G. vThe trough necessarily moves with and is moved by the frame G.

To counterbalance the Weight of the frame.

The upper end From the outer side of each G and its machinery when the said frame is descending toward a horizontal position, or toward the lowest lags or top cards, springs f3 f3 may be applied to'the frame A, and arranged as seen in the drawings, such springs being, respectively, met and pressed against by pins or studs g3 g3 during the descent of the frame G.

In order to render certain the depression 0f the top card down on its seat after it has been raised off the saine to be cleansed, a small arm h4 is extended from each lever 1J', as seen in the drawings. At the proper time a pin 4, that projects from the side of each of the cam-Wheels r r', comes into contact with the arm and insures the proper movement of the lever.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is as follows:

1. In combination with a series of top cards of a carding-engine, not only a mechanism for :raising one or more of such top cards and holding the same upward and afterward depressing the same back into place, but a mechanism for acting on and cleansing such top card or cards when or while so elevated, not meaning in the above to claim either the mechanism for moving the top card or cards or that for cleansing-it or them in their separate combination with the series of top cards, but to lay claim to both in their joint combination and with the series of top cards, substantially in the manner described.

2. In combinatioi'i with the series of top cards and mechanism for raising and cleansing a top card and restoring it to its seat, the mechanism for moving the raising and cleansing mechanism in succession from one top card to the other, andV whether from one card tothe next one throughout the series or from one to another of them to the next but one or in any other order, substantially as speci-` fied.

3. The combination of the grooved block T, or the grooves n o p q and circular arcs r 7' r r, the arm W', with its stud s, or the equivalent of said a Im and stud, and the notched wheel Uas applied to the shafts Q and V and made to operate together, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my signature this 17th day of May, A. D. 1852.

GEORGE WELLMAN. v, Witnesses:

BENJ. F. PERKINS, E. F. SHERMAN. 

